Pattern generating model and method of representing a network of relationships

Abstract

A data processor can include a hand manipulatable physical model representing a first regular polyhedron and a second regular polyhedron reorientable with respect to one another about a common center. The first regular polyhedron could be a tetrahedron, and the second regular polyhedron could be a dodecahedron. The polyhedrons are limited to reorientations via a rotation about a shared axis of symmetry. Each corner of each polyhedron is preferably identifiably different than all of the remaining comers via marking that can include colors and/or shapes. The device can be used to represent a network of relationships and/or be for processing data, such as a code in a game or otherwise.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A data processor comprising: 
 a model representing at least a portion of a first regular polyhedron and at least a portion of a second regular polyhedron that are reorientable with respect to one another about a common center.    
     
     
         2 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein said model includes at least one of a hand manipulatable physical model, a virtual model in a computer generated space, and a mathematical model.  
     
     
         3 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein said first and second regular polyhedrons have a plurality of different orientations; and 
 said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron have a plurality of common axes of symmetry in each of said different orientations.  
 
     
     
         4 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein said model limits a reorientation of said first regular polyhedron relative to said second regular polyhedron to a rotation about a common axis of symmetry.  
     
     
         5 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second regular polyhedrons is a tetrahedron.  
     
     
         6 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second regular polyhedrons is a dodecahedron.  
     
     
         7 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second regular polyhedrons is marked in a predetermined pattern.  
     
     
         8 . The data processor of  claim 7  wherein said predetermined pattern includes circles, triangles and five colors.  
     
     
         9 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein said first regular polyhedron is a tetrahedron; 
 said second regular polyhedron is a dodecahedron; and  
 each comer of said tetrahedron being identifiably different from its other comers.  
 
     
     
         10 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein each comer of said first and second regular polyhedrons is identifiably different than all remaining corners of said first and second regular polyhedrons.  
     
     
         11 . The data processor of  claim 1  including detents between said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron at relative orientations where said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron share a plurality of axes of symmetry.  
     
     
         12 . The data processor of  claim 1  wherein said first regular polyhedron is a tetrahedron; 
 said second regular polyhedron is a dodecahedron;  
 said first and second regular polyhedrons have a plurality of different orientations;  
 said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron have a plurality of common axes of symmetry in each of said different orientations;  
 said model includes a hand manipulatable physical model that limits a reorientation of said first regular polyhedron relative to said second regular polyhedron to a rotation about a common axis of symmetry; and  
 each comer of said first and second regular polyhedrons is identifiably different than all remaining corners of said first and second regular polyhedrons.  
 
     
     
         13 . A pattern generator comprising: 
 a hand manipulatable physical model representing at least a portion of a first regular polyhedron and at least a portion of a second regular polyhedron reorientable with respect to one another about a common center.    
     
     
         14 . The pattern generator of  claim 13  wherein said model includes an interconnection between an inner structure and an outer structure; and 
 said interconnection permitting a plurality of different orientations between said inner structure and said outer structure.  
 
     
     
         15 . The pattern generator of  claim 14  wherein said interconnection includes a spherical interface.  
     
     
         16 . The pattern generator of  claim 14  wherein said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron have a plurality of axes of symmetry in each of said different orientations.  
     
     
         17 . The pattern generator of  claim 14  wherein said interconnection limits reorientation of said inner structure relative to said outer structure to adjacent orientations that share a common axis of symmetry for said first and second regular polyhedrons.  
     
     
         18 . The pattern generator of  claim 14  wherein said interconnection limits reorientation of said inner structure relative to said outer structure to a rotation about a common axis of symmetry of said first and second regular polyhedrons.  
     
     
         19 . The pattern generator of  claim 14  wherein said interconnection includes a plurality of intersecting guide paths, and a plurality of path followers guided in said guide paths.  
     
     
         20 . The pattern generator of  claim 14  wherein at least one of said inner structure and said outer structure include markings whose relative orientations define said different orientations.  
     
     
         21 . The pattern generator of  claim 20  wherein said markings include circles, triangles and a plurality of colors.  
     
     
         22 . The pattern generator of  claim 14  wherein said outer structure corresponds to said tetrahedron; and 
 said inner structure corresponds to a dodecahedron.  
 
     
     
         23 . The pattern generator of  claim 13  including at least one tangible medium having at least a portion of a code thereon; and 
 each said code defining an identifiably different orientation of said first regular polyhedron relative to said second regular polyhedron.  
 
     
     
         24 . The pattern generator of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron is projected onto a sphere.  
     
     
         25 . A method of representing a network of relationships, comprising the steps of: 
 assigning items in a first data set to features of a first regular polyhedron;    assigning items in a second data set to features of a second regular polyhedron; and    orienting the first regular polyhedron relative to the second regular polyhedron in an orientation corresponding to at least one shared axis of symmetry.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  including a step of positioning the first regular polyhedron and a second regular polyhedron to share a common center.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  including a step of constraining a reorientation of the first regular polyhedron to the second regular polyhedron to a rotation about a common axis of symmetry.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said first data set and said second data set are represented by at least one of shapes and colors.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein one of said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron is a tetrahedron; and 
 an other of said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron is a dodecahedron.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  including a step of projecting at least one of said first regular polyhedron and said second regular polyhedron onto a sphere.